Have you ever wondered who gets to decide what art means?
In museums artworks are often displayed with a label. Sometimes the label only lists the artist’s name and information like the artwork’s title, dimensions and medium. But sometimes that label interprets the artwork attempting to describe what the artwork “means.” Sometimes the artist writes this label and sometimes the museum does. This begs the question: who has the authority to interpret the meaning of an artwork? Should it be the artist? Should it be the museum? Or, should it be the viewer? Who is the “expert” when it comes to interpreting what art means?
We want to empower YOU to be the expert!
Write your own museum label or creative response to one of the artworks in the “Mark Beltchenko: • • • —— — • • • (SOS)” exhibition and enter to win a $100 prize!
The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum presents a new exhibition by a Detroit-based artist, “Mark Beltchenko: • • • — — — • • • (SOS).” The phrase “S.O.S.” often means “Save Our Ship” or “Save Our Souls.” Beltchenko hopes his artworks will inspire dialogue and our own interpretations of his works, encouraging us to consider our political, environmental, and cultural landscape in America.
We want to know how YOU interpret his artworks!
HOW TO ENTER: We invite you to explore the “Mark Beltchenko: • • • — — — • • • (SOS)” exhibition in-person at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum (currently open to SVSU students, faculty, and staff) or the Virtual Exhibition online at MarshallFredericks.net/mb (open to all), and tell us what you think of his artwork by writing a museum label OR a short creative response (a poem, flash fiction or non-fiction piece) inspired by a piece of art in this collection. Each individual entry cannot exceed 400 words; there is no limit on the number of individual submissions.
JUDGES & PRIZES: The Museum and Writing Center staff will judge all the entries. Up to TWO prizes will be awarded for both the SVSU Student and the Community Member categories (General Public, SVSU faculty & staff) will be awarded. Each winner will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card.
SVSU Student
1. Museum Label ($100)
2. Creative Writing ($100)
Community Member (General Public, SVSU faculty & staff)
1. Museum Label ($100)
2. Creative Writing ($100)
DEADLINE: Entries must be received online by December 15, 2020 at midnight. Winners will be announced in January 2021.
See below for detailed instructions.
QUESTIONS? Contact the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at mfsm@svsu.edu or, the SVSU Community Writing Center Email at ccw@svsu.edu.
In museums artworks are often displayed with a label. Sometimes the label only lists the artist’s name and information like the artwork’s title, dimensions and medium. But sometimes that label interprets the artwork attempting to describe what the artwork “means.” Sometimes the artist writes this label and sometimes the museum does. This begs the question: who has the authority to interpret the meaning of an artwork? Should it be the artist? Should it be the museum? Or, should it be the viewer? Who is the “expert” when it comes to interpreting what art means?
We want to empower YOU to be the expert!
Write your own museum label or creative response to one of the artworks in the “Mark Beltchenko: • • • —— — • • • (SOS)” exhibition and enter to win a $100 prize!
The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum presents a new exhibition by a Detroit-based artist, “Mark Beltchenko: • • • — — — • • • (SOS).” The phrase “S.O.S.” often means “Save Our Ship” or “Save Our Souls.” Beltchenko hopes his artworks will inspire dialogue and our own interpretations of his works, encouraging us to consider our political, environmental, and cultural landscape in America.
We want to know how YOU interpret his artworks!
HOW TO ENTER: We invite you to explore the “Mark Beltchenko: • • • — — — • • • (SOS)” exhibition in-person at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum (currently open to SVSU students, faculty, and staff) or the Virtual Exhibition online at MarshallFredericks.net/mb (open to all), and tell us what you think of his artwork by writing a museum label OR a short creative response (a poem, flash fiction or non-fiction piece) inspired by a piece of art in this collection. Each individual entry cannot exceed 400 words; there is no limit on the number of individual submissions.
JUDGES & PRIZES: The Museum and Writing Center staff will judge all the entries. Up to TWO prizes will be awarded for both the SVSU Student and the Community Member categories (General Public, SVSU faculty & staff) will be awarded. Each winner will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card.
SVSU Student
1. Museum Label ($100)
2. Creative Writing ($100)
Community Member (General Public, SVSU faculty & staff)
1. Museum Label ($100)
2. Creative Writing ($100)
DEADLINE: Entries must be received online by December 15, 2020 at midnight. Winners will be announced in January 2021.
See below for detailed instructions.
QUESTIONS? Contact the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at mfsm@svsu.edu or, the SVSU Community Writing Center Email at ccw@svsu.edu.
WRITING PROMPTS: Museum Label
Labels are an interpretive element that empowers the viewer to self-educate, based on their own understanding of the work. How would you describe and interpret a work of are in this exhibition?
Labels are an interpretive element that empowers the viewer to self-educate, based on their own understanding of the work. How would you describe and interpret a work of are in this exhibition?
Example of an interpretive label from the Mark Beltchenko show:
Example of an interpretive label from the Main Gallery of Marshall Fredericks’ artwork:
WRITING PROMPTS: Creative Writing (including Poetry, Flash Fiction, Creative Non-fiction)
Within the world of literature, writing from art is called ekphrastic writing. It’s a way to see a piece of art more clearly, but also see ourselves: our reactions, emotions, and ideas that arise from engaging with the artwork.
Ekphrastic writing can take the form of poetry, flash fiction, creative non-fiction. The genre will likely be determined by the content of your writing – so don’t be afraid to try something new!
To get started, we encourage you to free-write your impressions of the artwork – first, pay attention to what you see: its lines, shapes, textures, colors. Write for two minutes. Next, for another two minutes. write about your response to the artwork: your feelings, your thoughts, your associated memories, your interpretation. Finally, read back over what you have written, and underline two or three lines that resonate with you. This may be the start of your creative response: in fact, it might be the end of your response. If so, consider submitting this under the “label” category.
If you’d like to create a poem, flash fiction, or creative non-fiction, here’s some suggestions:
1. Read Beltchenko’s artist statement explaining his concept for one of his series. Next, consider the artwork he created to represent this concept. Write a description of the artwork you would create to describe this concept. What would your artwork look like? How does your imagined artwork compare to that by the artist?
2. Have a conversation with Beltchenko. What would you say to him? What questions and comments does this artwork elicit for you? And how might he respond?
3. Imagine a group of three or four people viewing this artwork from varied backgrounds and experiences. What different things might they see and feel?
4. Write a noun, two adverbs, three adjectives, and four verbs that describe this artwork. Next, review the artist statement, and write down four words/phrases that resonate with you. Finally, write down your quick impressions of the space around the artwork (the art gallery, the weather outside, or the time of day, for example). Review these words and phrases and see whether you can combine them to make meaning.
5. This exhibit is created from various natural and manmade materials that we see every day: wood, stone, metal, and rope. Consider one of these materials and write down all the places you typically see this material. Then contrast how it is being used in this artwork.
QUESTIONS? Contact the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at mfsm@svsu.edu or, the
SVSU Community Writing Center Email at ccw@svsu.edu.
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